Director Anthony Hickox's debut film 'Waxwork (1988)' was a disappointment for me, but his second low-budget b-grade production is a vast improvement, but still from flawless. For a comedy-horror I didn't find it particularly humorous, but at least it had an atypical quality and unique premise of a modern day vampire western outing. It's ambitious, but has a disarray of unrealized gimmicks in its broadly directionless story. The two themes were mixed in well enough though. Don't be expecting much blood splatter and dark humour as it's dry on that front, because it's quite light-hearted and goofy throughout the whole thing. The script keeps it tongue-in-cheek and fairly witty, but slim on plot details. Making it much stronger is that of a well-cast of gleeful familiar faces. David Carradine adds class with his lofty performance as the head count of the town. Bruce Campbell in a too minor role enjoyably twitches about as a vampire hunter and Deborah Foreman is engagingly warm as one of the undead. John Ireland mercilessly chews it up in a fine villainous role. Maxwell Caulfield made for a perfect oily vampire and M Emmet Walsh's cranky shenanigans were a delightful inclusion. In the main leads Jim Metzler was forgettable and Morgan Brittany was only slightly better. Look out for Dana Ashbrook, John Hancock, Dabbs Greer and George 'Buck' Flower. Hickox nicely paces it, and its ever-changing tenor is well pulled off with such polished styling. He does a slick job, with such restraints. The action sequences (mainly in the latter half with its traditional shootouts and standoff) can be over-the-top, but are competently done and the make-up work looks convincing. In the background the vast, dusty Arizona setting is beautifully captured by tidy cinematography and even a grand western flavour features prominently in the burning score. This little feature falls in the rivetingly campy basket.
Review of Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat
